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Approval for Astoria LNG project delayed
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
ASTORIA (AP) — State approval needed to build the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal has been delayed until developer NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc. provides more information on the project.
The state must approve permits for the Bradwood project before federal regulators can give NorthernStar the go-ahead to begin constructing the proposed LNG terminal 20 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River.
The LNG terminal would import, store and process supercooled liquefied natural gas for movement through pipelines.
The Department of Environmental Quality, which has to issue the water-quality permit, is awaiting more information on the project that was requested in May to complete the water-quality review.
The state must know how the project would affect water flows in Clifton Channel and water temperatures in the Columbia River, said Alex Cyril, who oversees water quality permits for the state agency.
NorthernStar officials said they plan to submit the requested information by Monday.
“We expect a two-week delay with no overall setback in the overall project,” said Joe Desmond, vice president of external relations for NorthernStar.
NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc. has withdrawn its request for a water quality certification from the state, restarting the yearlong state approval process required to build the LNG terminal.
NorthernStar has said it hopes to begin construction in 2009 and have the terminal in use by 2013.
Opponents criticize NorthernStar for wasting time and tax dollars by withholding information needed to complete the permit process.
“It’s starting to look like they are hiding something,” said Brent Foster, executive director of the LNG opponent group Columbia Riverkeeper.
The state must approve permits for the Bradwood project before federal regulators can give NorthernStar the go-ahead to begin constructing the proposed LNG terminal 20 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River.
The LNG terminal would import, store and process supercooled liquefied natural gas for movement through pipelines.
The Department of Environmental Quality, which has to issue the water-quality permit, is awaiting more information on the project that was requested in May to complete the water-quality review.
The state must know how the project would affect water flows in Clifton Channel and water temperatures in the Columbia River, said Alex Cyril, who oversees water quality permits for the state agency.
NorthernStar officials said they plan to submit the requested information by Monday.
“We expect a two-week delay with no overall setback in the overall project,” said Joe Desmond, vice president of external relations for NorthernStar.
NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc. has withdrawn its request for a water quality certification from the state, restarting the yearlong state approval process required to build the LNG terminal.
NorthernStar has said it hopes to begin construction in 2009 and have the terminal in use by 2013.
Opponents criticize NorthernStar for wasting time and tax dollars by withholding information needed to complete the permit process.
“It’s starting to look like they are hiding something,” said Brent Foster, executive director of the LNG opponent group Columbia Riverkeeper.
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